Restraining device

ABSTRACT

A device for comfortably holding a patient in a bed or wheelchair includes a jacket disposed around the upper torso of the patient and straps extending away from the front and rear of the jacket for attachment to the sides of the bed or wheelchair. The jacket can be used in combination with a pelvic support garment drawn between the legs of the patient and extending upwardly to his midriff. Belt loops on the lower part of the jacket extend through cooperating apertures at the top of the pelvic support garment and the straps are threaded through the belt loops to join the pelvic support garment to the jacket.

[ Feb. 15,1972

United States Patent Posey, Jr.

[54] RESTRAINING DEVICE [72] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell John T. Ma Jr., 2833 N. Holliston I E Avenue, Altadena, Calif. 91001 Amen Attorney-Christie, Parker & Hale ABSTRACT A device for comfortably holding a patient in a bed or a a n a m m w l. w e m umw MM nw HQ 1 88B 01 22/ 11611 u nfi 1 mm AM I 1 n B S m l m 2 m 3 m m l A u. m M P u l C m mm m n" m m m T k 9 P S 2 4 k n h GD 8 n 563 W 999 0 M NH N I .f 306 m 0 1 .l t d a w s; %m% 1] 1]] 1 NM% 2 .l 2 00 6 04 U U UUU U 231 heelchair includes a jacket disposed around the upper torso of the patient and straps extending away from the front and rear of the jacket for attachment to the sides of the bed or wheelchair. The jacket can be used in combination with a pelvic support garment drawn between the legs of the patient and ding upwardly to his midriif. Belt loops on the lower part of the jacket extend through cooperating apertures at the top of the pelvic support garment and the straps are threaded through the belt loops to join the pelvic support garmentto 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED EB1 m2 3. 41.997

SHEET 1 [IF 3 1 N VliN '1' 0R.

mtmcmza 15 1912 I SHEET 2 0F 3 PATENTEDFEB 15 m2 SHEET 3 OF 3 RESTRAINING DEVICE This invention relates to restraining devices, and more particularly to a device for comfortably holding a hospital patient in a bed, wheelchair, or the like.

Belts and shoulder straps are commonly used to secure hospital patients to beds or wheelchairs. These devices are relatively satisfactory for keeping the patient restrained, but they are not particularly comfortable because they must be tightly fastened to prevent the patient from freeing himself.

' Moreover, many previously known restraining devices are bulky and heavy and are therefore uncomfortable for the patient when applied. Comfort is an important consideration because an uncomfortable patient is understandably very often uncooperative. In cases where the patient is required to rest, an uncomfortable restraining device is obviously desirable.

This invention provides a strong, lightweight restraining device that comfortably secures a patient to a hospital fixture such as a bed, wheelchair, or the like. When applied, the device allows good freedom of movement for the patient while positively restraininghim in his bed or wheelchair.

Briefly, the restraining device includes a jacket disposed around the upper torso of the patient so that it makes a comfortable yet snug fit around the shoulders of the patient. The jacket extends downwardly to define a midriff section which makes a snug fit around the patients midriff. Straps secured to the front and rear of the jacket midriff section extend away from right and left sides of the patient for attachment to remote portions of his bed or wheelchair so that the patient is unable to free himself. The jacket avoids the discomfort associated with shoulder straps and the like because it allows the patient to move his arms and shoulders rather freely without producing undue pressure around his shoulders. The straps are not wrapped around the patients midriff, thereby providing a substantial degree of lateral movement for the patients lower torso.

A preferred form of the invention includes a pelvic support garment disposed about the patients lower torso and joined at its top to the jacket midriff section. The pelvic garment has a crotch portion extending between the legs of the patient and a front and rear portion respectively extending upwardly from the crotch portion over the front and the rear of the patients lower torso to the front and the rear, respectively, of the jacket midriff section. The pelvic support garment is joined to the jacket midriff section by straps threaded through cooperating apertures associated with the top of the pelvic support garment and the jacket midriff section. This form of the invention provides additional means for restraining the patient in his bed or wheelchair. For example, the patient is unable to free himself by slidably moving in a longitudinal direction. However, the patient remains comfortable because this form of the invention allows some freedom of movement in a longitudinal direction while allowing the patient to move his legs and lower torso rather freely. Thus, the patient is effectively restrained, while the discomfort associated with tightly wrapped belts, for example, is eliminated.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the restraining jacket and pelvic support garment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the restraining jacket applied to a patient in a hospital bed; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the restraining jacket and pelvic support garment combination applied to a patient in a wheelchair.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of the restraining device comprises a jacket 10 having an opening 12 at its top for the head of a patient and a pair of openings 14 at its sides for the arms of a patient. Jacket 10 thus defines at its top a pair of shoulder sections 16 adapted to fit over the shoulders of the patient. The jacket extends downwardly a sufficient distance to define at its bottom a midriff section 18 adapted to be disposed around the midrifi of the patient. A long flexible strap 20 is secured to the front of jacket 10 at the middle of midriff section 18 by conventional stitching to define a right frontal waist strap 22 extending away from the right side of jacket 10 and a left frontal waist strap 24 extending away from the left side of jacket 10. Similarly, a long flexible strap 26 is secured to the rear of jacket 10 at the middle of midriff section 18 by conventional stitching to define a right rear waist strap 28 and a left rear waist strap 30. A right frontal belt loop 32 and a left frontal belt loop 34 are respectively secured to the front of jacket 10 at the right and left sides of midriff section 18. A right rear belt loop 36 and a left rear belt loop 38 are respectively secured to therear of jacket 10 at the right and left sides of midriff section 18. As seen best in FIG. 1, the belt loops are secured at one end to jacket 10 so that they protrude outwardly from the jacket for a purpose hereinafter described.

In use, jacket 10 secures a patient to a bed, wheelchair, or the like. FIG. 2 illustrates the use of jacket 10 for restraining a patient 40 lying in a hospital bed 42. Jacket l0 is disposed around the upper torso of the patient by extending the patients head through opening 12 and extending the patients arms through openings 14. Thus, shoulder sections 16 fit snugly and comfortably around the patients shoulders. Jacket 10 comfortably fits the upper torso of the patient and extends downwardly so that its midriff section 18 is disposed snugly yet comfortably around the midriff of the patient. Right frontal and rear waist straps 22 and 28 extend across the right side of the patients midriff where they are respectively threaded through belt loops 32 and 36. Similarly, left frontal and rear waist straps 30 and 38 extend across the left side of the patient's midriff where they are respectively threaded through belt loops 34 and 38. The waist straps then extend away from the sides of the patient for attachment to the understructure of bed 42 at locations remote from the patient sothat he is unable to free himself. I

When applied, jacket 10 effectively restrains patient 40in his bed. Right frontal and rear waist straps 22 and 28 and left frontal and rear waist straps, 24 and 30 restrain the patient from leaving the bed in a sideways direction. Jacket shoulder sections 16 restrain the patient from freeing himself by movement in an upward direction away from the waist straps. The size of shoulder openings 14 is such that jacket 10 makes a snug fit around the shoulders of the patient, and as a result, it is extremely difficult for the patient to free himself by slidably moving in a downward direction away from the waist straps. Although the patient is effectively restrained by jacket 10, he remains comfortable. The jacket provides substantial freedom of movement for the patients upper torso, his arms, and his shoulders. This movement is possible without producing the annoying pressure on the upper torso and shoulders normally associated with shoulder straps and the like. Since the waist straps 22, 24, 28 and 30 are not wrapped around the midriff of the patient, a substantial amount of lateral movement is provided for the patients midriff and lower torso. This avoids the discomforting pressure around the waist normally produced by conventional waist belts and the like.

An alternative form of the invention includes a pelvic support garment 44 adapted to be wrapped around a patients lower torso. Pelvic support garment 44 includes a relatively narrow centrally disposed crotch portion 46 extending upwardly and outwardly to a front portion 48 and a rear portion 50. A pair of horizontally disposed slitlike openings 52 and 54 are respectively located at the right and left sides of pelvic support garment front section 48 near its top. Similarly, a pair of horizontally disposed slitlike openings 56 and 58 are respectively located at the right and left sides of pelvic support garment rear section 50 near its top. A vertically disposed slitlike opening 60 is located at the center of pelvic support garment front portion 48 between openings 52 and 54, and a similar vertically disposed slitlike opening 62 is located at the center of pelvic support garment rear portion 50 between openings 56 and 58.

Pelvic support garment 44 is used in combination with jacket 10 to secure a patient to a hospital bed or wheelchair.

FIG. 3 illustrates the use of pelvic support garment 44 on a patient 64 sitting in a wheelchair 66. Jacket is disposed around the patients'upper torso as previously described so that shoulder sections 16 snugly fit around the shoulders of the patient, with jacket midriff section 18 disposed around the patient's midriff. Crotch portion 46 of the pelvic support garment extends between the patients legs and the pelvic support garment is drawn up tothe midriff of the patient with front and rear portions 48 and 50 respectively extending upwardly over the front and rear of the patients lower torso. The respective tops of front and rear sections 48 and 50 are securely fastened to the front and rear of jacket midriff section 18 by (a) extending belt loops 32 and 34 through frontal openings 52 and 54, respectively, of pelvic support garment 44, (b) extending belt loops 36 and 38 through rear openings 56 and 58, respectively, of pelvic support garment 44, (c) threading frontal waist straps 22 and 24 through frontal opening 60 of pelvic support garment 44, (d) threading rear waist straps 28 and 30 through rear opening 62 in pelvic support garment 44, (e) threading right front and rear waist straps 22 and 28 through right belt loops 32 and 36, respectively, and then extending these waist straps away from the right side of the patient, and (f) threading left front and rear waist straps 24 and 30 through left belt loops 34 and 38,.respectively, and extending these waist straps away from the left side of the patient. The ends of each strap are then fastened to a portion of wheelchair 66 remote from patient 64 so that he is unable to free himself.

When applied, pelvic support garment 44 remains securely fastened to the bottom of jacket 10 to provide additional means for restraining the patients movement. For example, the patient is unable to free himself by slidably moving a downward direction away from the waist straps. Although the patient is effectively restrained by the additional use of pelvic support garment 44, the patient remains comfortable. The pelvic support garment still allows the patient some freedom of movement in a longitudinal direction. The pelvic support garment supports the patients lower torso so that the patient is particularly comfortable when sitting in a wheelchair. Further, the pelvic support garment is not wrapped entirely around the patient's legs or midriff and therefore allows a substantial amount of lateral movement for the patients midriff and lower torso without the discomfort resulting from conventional waist belts or the like.

Jacket 10, pelvic support garment 44, and its attendant waist straps and belt loops are preferably made of a strong, flexible material such as nylon. This makes the restraining device of this invention relatively cool and light in weight,

thereby enhancing its comfort when used. The restraining device can furthermore be made in small, medium, and large size to accommodate patients of different ages and sizes. The restraining device is particularly suitable for everyday use in hospitals and the like because it is rugged and can therefore, withstand the rough treatment to which it is ordinarily exposed. Further, the light weight of the device makes it easily carried about by an attendant.

I claim:

l. A device for comfortably holding a patient in a hospital fixture such as a bed or a wheelchair, the device comprising:

a.'a jacket disposed around the upper torso of the patient so that it makes a snug fit around the shoulders of the patient and extends downwardly to define a midriff section which makes a snug fit around the midriff of the patient;

b. a pelvic support disposed about the lower torso of the patient defining a crotch portion extending between the legs of the patient and a front and a rear portion respectively extending upwardly from the crotch portion over the front and the rear of the lower torso of the patient to the front and the rear, respectively, of the jacket midriff section;

c. elongated right and left frontal straps secured to the front of the jacket midriff section and threaded through at least one frontal aperture associated with the front portion of the pelvic support for joining the pelvic support front portion to the front of the jacket midriff section, the right and left frontal straps respectively extending away from the right and left sides of the patient for attachment to the fixture; and

d. elongated right and left rear straps secured to the rear of the jacket midriff section and threaded through at least one rear aperture associated with the rear portion of the pelvic support for joining the pelvic support rear portion to the rear of the jacket midriff section, the right and left rear straps respectively extending away from the right and left sides of the patient for attachment to the fixture.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including laterally spaced apart right and left frontal belt loops secured to the front of the jacket midriff section each extending through a respective aperture in the pelvic support front portion, and laterally spaced apart right and left rear belt loops secured to the rear of the jacket midriff section each extending through a respective aperture in the pelvic support rear portion; and wherein the frontal straps are threaded through their respective frontal belt loops and the rear straps are threaded through their respective rear belt loops prior to their attachment to the fixture. 

1. A device for comfortably holding a patient in a hospital fixture such as a bed or a wheelchair, the device comprising: a. a jacket disposed around the upper torso of the patient so that it makes a snug fit around the shoulders of the patient and extends downwardly to define a midriff section which makes a snug fit around the midriff of the patient; b. a pelvic support disposed about the lower torso of the patient defining a crotch portion extending between the legs of the patient and a front and a rear portion respectively extending upwardly from the crotch portion over the front and the rear of the lower torso of the patient to the front and the rear, respectively, of the jacket midriff section; c. elongated right and left frontal straps secured to the front of the jacket midriff section and threaded through at least one frontal aperture associated with the front portion of the pelvic support for joining the pelvic support front portion to the front of the jacket midriff section, the right and left frontal straps respectively extending away from the right and left sides of the patient for attachment to the fixture; and d. elongated right and left rear straps secured to the rear of the jacket midriff section and threaded through at least one rear aperture associated with the rear portion of the pelvic support for joining the pelvic support rear portion to the rear of the jacket midriff section, the right and left rear straps respectively extending away from the right and left sides of the patient for attachment to the fixture.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including laterally spaced apart right and left frontal belt loops secured to the front of the jacket midriff section each extending through a respective aperture in the pelvic support front portion, and laterally spaced apart right and left rear belt loops secured to the rear of the jacket midriff section each extending through a respective aperture in the pelvic support rear portion; and wherein the frontal straps are threaded through their respective frontal belt loops and the rear straps are threaded through their respective rear belt loops prior to their attachment to the fixture. 